New Jersey Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights takes effect September 1st

Bullying is a serious problem in the United States many school districts and state legislatures across the country have been taking action by creating new policies and passing new laws.  On September 1st, New Jersey's Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights goes into effect.

The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights in New Jersey comes almost a year after the suicide of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi.  The sad reality is that suicide is a leading cause of death for teenagers.  In Indiana, the suicide of 15-year-old Billy Lucas was a tragic wake up call to teachers and parents.  Still, the death of Billy Lucas wasn't enough to get a bullying law passed in Indiana.  I'm hoping a bullying law proposal in the next Indiana legislative session will at least make it out of committee.

The new law in New Jersey is being called the toughest anti-bullying law in the country.  Lots of states have taken different approaches when it comes to using laws to protect school children, so your representatives need to hear from you.  Go to your state's legislative website, find your representative and send them a message.  Some states have websites that allow you to send quick messages, while others connect you by email.  And don't forget, you can always send a real letter.  The point is to let your representatives know how you feel so they can pass laws that protect kids from bullying.

The anti-bullying law in New Jersey may help create a philosophy that their are no innocent bystanders: if you see bullying you have a responsibility to report it.  I think this is important.  Dealing with bullying is very difficult and someone experiencing bullying at school may be too uncomfortable to seek out help on their own.  If you see someone being bullied, mention it to a teacher, counselor or parent.  You don't have to point fingers.  Simply let an adult know that you saw something that made you uncomfortable and ask them to check and make sure everything is okay.  For many of us taking a stand against bullying is a really hard thing to do. Just remember, your help may save a life.